Bench dismisses plea questioning EVMs

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) questioning the authenticity of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for conducting elections and asked the petitioner to approach the Election Commission (EC) for redressal of his grievance.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) questioning the authenticity of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for conducting elections and asked the petitioner to approach the Election Commission (EC) for redressal of his grievance.

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“We are not underestimating your stand but you have to approach the right place which is Election Commission,” a bench headed by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said refusing to be dragged into the controversy.

Days after senior BJP leader L K Advani and some other political leaders raised doubts about the reliability of EVMs to conduct elections, petitioner V V Rao had moved the SC asking the court to stop EC from using EVMs till the machines were made tamper-proof.

Rao’s counsel Sanjay Parikh requested the court to appoint an expert committee to examine the issues raised in the petition. Parekh said some measures relating to proper functioning of EVMs had to be considered because a voter was could not be sure if on pressing the button, the vote cast by them have gone to the candidate of their choice or not.

But the court said such issues could be examined by EC. “You are at liberty to make representations to the EC, which would look into the issue…If the representation is made before the EC then even political parties can express their views,” the bench told the petitioner.